On New Year's Eve, don't let the bubbly bring a tear to your eye

Careful! Members of the Red Bull Formula One racing team party with the bubbly after their guy, Sebastian Vettel, won the Brazilian Grand Prix on Nov. 25. FILE PHOTO: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

It's getting close to New Year's Eve, so it must be time for the American Academy of Ophthalmology to issue its annual warning about the dangers posed by flying Champagne corks.

"Champagne toasts are always a fun way to ring in a new year but, unfortunately, incorrect champagne cork removal is also a major holiday eye hazard," goes a release from the academy.

The release attributes such injuries to, among other things, overly warm bubbly and improper removal techniques. The cork, under as much as 90 pounds of pressure per square inch, can fly at speeds up to 50 mph – fast enough to cause permanent vision loss, the academy says.

"When a Champagne cork flies, you really have no time to react and protect your delicate eyes," wrote Dr. Monica L. Monica (yes, that's her real name), an ophthalmologist and academy spokeswoman.

The doctors recommend chilling Champagne and other kinds of sparkling wine to 45 degrees to reduce the chances that a cork from a warmed bottle will spontaneously discharge. Don't shake the bottle like they do after car races. Point the bottle at a 45-degree angle, away from yourself and others. Hold onto the cork with the palm of your hand while you twist off the wire holding the cork in place. And use a towel to twist off the cork, easing the force of the launch.

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